Uwe Schrader's fleabag world of aimless drifters was introduced to us in his fine debut feature Kanakerbraut (PFA 1984). In Sierra Leone, once again, black humor cannot disguise the grim devolution that Schrader describes so well. Kay Armatage wrote for the 1987 Toronto Festival of Festivals: "Fred has just returned to an industrial region on the outskirts of a large German city after three years in West Africa. He has a pocket full of money and is looking forward to a new life. He finds that his wife has learned to stand on her own feet and is involved with another man. He rents a room in The Royal, a seedy, rundown hotel where he meets Alma, who caters to the needs of the hotel and its guests...(To) Alma, Fred is a ticket to freedom and adventure. Rather than get stuck in her sleazy surroundings, she leaves with Fred on an aimless journey through Germany. These are the bare bones of a story which provides a vehicle for a cinematic excursion that is extraordinary in its attention to the atmosphere-image and sound-of settings and situations. Schrader employs non-professional actors as much as possible, but they render assured performances that sparkle with detail. The constantly moving camera-mostly hand-held and shot with available light-provides an authentically documentary feel...The whole film is spontaneous and fluid. This film more than fulfills the promise of Kanakerbraut and marks Uwe Schrader as a director to watch." Also featured at the 1988 San Francisco, Montreal, and Venice Film Festivals.